Re: Thank you Westone Guitar Forums!

[fish]

Sorry Richard, I was sure I read you said your wife came from over here, must have dreamt it, just put it down to age, along with
brown alcohol

I'm not a Scotch drinker, even single malt's, getting back to wife's, my pals wife likes that dreadful smokey/peaty stuff & gave me a good measure to try, I tired to drink it but slipped it into her glass while they were out on the room, think she went to bed happy, if not it would have been acid indigestion.

Guess you'll have to put me down as a philistine on Ice, Ice

[Iceman]

Guess you'll have to put me down as a philistine on Ice

...wwwhhhaaaa, huh, (snort).... what????......... did someone call???

[fish]

Not you Ice, slip of the forward button

[richardlpalmer]

As we are all aware if you do not use it you chance losing it . That being said there is nothing like practice, practice and yes, more practice to strengthen that"weak" palate.

Talisker holds a special place in my palate ( my initial foray into the world of Scotch), but it is really a breed unto itself rather than an expression of a style.

Your mission Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to put the following "to the test".........

Cardhu
BenRaich
Tamdhu
Ardmore

Shoot for 12 years old all and compare side by side if possible

Yes, I'm working that palate out regularly. I have the "problem" of enjoying something and then being completely happy to just keep on enjoying it. For example, at our favorite Mexican restaurant I order the same thing every time we go. I'm sure there are many delicious things on their menu, but I look forward to going every time. And come away completely happy with my dining experience.

Similarly I have this "problem" with alcohol. It's only been recently that I've started trying more and more bourbons, whiskeys and scotches. I'll take your recommendations to heart (although I don't recongize all of those names -- so they might not have them in our stores here).

[grogg]

I had to do some work in Buffalo a long while ago and took a young engineer with me. On our first night we went to the hotel "club" bar, he was very pumped up and excited to be in the US for the first time. The barman asked what we would like, he said confidently "Bourbon".
Barman says "Straight or on the rocks?"
Less confidently "straight".
Drink turns up and he said to the barman "wheres the f...ing ice?"

I was in stitches.

Born Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Brought up and live in Cardiff, Wales, one of the best cities in UK.

[Iceman]

Every great journey still begins with a single step.

Any moderately well-stocked retailer will carry at least one of them. It is just a small list representing most of what to expect from a Speysider.

If you enjoy researching via reading as well as tasting you should look into the writings of Jim Murray. He isn't hard to find online and an excellent source would be his "Complete Book of Whiskey". My copy is a 1998 edition and even though that is quite dated as whiskey is concerned it still is a suitable point of reference from which to begin your journey.






...and when you can snatch this pebble from my hand.....

[fish]

Every great journey still begins with a single step.

Any moderately well-stocked retailer will carry at least one of them. It is just a small list representing most of what to expect from a Speysider.

Its not that I don't keep a good single malt cellar Ice





...and when you can snatch this pebble from my hand.....

[Iceman]

Spend much time in the duty-free at Heathrow? (nudge, nudge & ATJ)

I like ya Fish...... always have....... always will !!!

[The Chad]

Sorry Richard, I was sure I read you said your wife came from over here, must have dreamt it, just put it down to age, along with
brown alcohol

It was my Wife that came from England, not Richard's. Must be too much brown alcohol, Fish!

She's from Keighley, but moved around in England a bunch. She spent a lot of her life in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

As for me, born and raised in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, outside the city in the great rural Piketown.

[fish]

Thanks Chad, I'm only going half daft then, must leave the pop alone for a bit

[richardlpalmer]

And it's threads like this that have me chompin' at the bit to get across the pond! How many distilleries can I realistically access in a 5 day period? I really don't have a good idea of what it's like with distances/driving over there...

[fish]

Spend much time in the duty-free at Heathrow? (nudge, nudge & ATJ)

I like ya Fish...... always have....... always will !!!

.........Ahhh, Like ya too Ice

No Ice the miniatures came in a gift pack courtesy of a customer who enjoyed a motor club set tour of the main distillery's, I think the trip was spread over five days. I was just happy he didn't brake down the miniatures were a bonus they've been in the cupboard for years mind, pity Scotch doesn't suit me

Now, that would suit you, Richard too, better stop buying Guitars & start saving your Penny's, that way when the next X350MA surface's, you'll either be too pist or too broke to be any serious competition

This may help.... http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/Whisky_tours/

[fish]

There you go, that was fortunate Richard

[Iceman]

.........that way when the next X350MA surface's, you'll either be to pist or to broke to be to be any serious competition

Scoundrel !! How dare you, sir! Preemptive moves like that are uncalled for! What's an x350ma??



I've a good friend over here who grew up in Arbroath (which is up along the Northwest coast abit) and he has told me in some of the more concentrated areas 6 to 8 a day is doable as distilleries go.

Are you remembering to practice, young man??

[richardlpalmer]

Now, that would suit you, Richard too, better stop buying Guitars & start saving your Penny's, that way when the next X350MA surface's, you'll either be too pist or too broke to be any serious competition

This may help.... http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/Whisky_tours/

Thanks for the link. Brilliant!

But stop buying guitars? Se habla espanol?

.........that way when the next X350MA surface's, you'll either be to pist or to broke to be to be any serious competition

Scoundrel !! How dare you, sir! Preemptive moves like that are uncalled for! What's an x350ma??

I've a good friend over here who grew up in Arbroath (which is up along the Northwest coast abit) and he has told me in some of the more concentrated areas 6 to 8 a day is doable as distilleries go.

Are you remembering to practice, young man??

I'm also curious what an x350ma is.

And I have been practicing, regularly! In fact, just today. We ARE talking about drinking, right?

[corsair]

X350MA Pantera; 48 built and oddly, quite a few of them on here; Westbone has one as his avatar. More info on 'em..

http://www.westone.info/panterax350ma.html

[fish]

I'd better recap here Richard. Ice knows what an X350MA is, one of his first posts was that he would like to find one.

My post was for Ice but as you had posted your note as I wrote mine I added ''would suit Richard too'' relating to the link, though grammatically it reads all wrong, or am I just digging a deeper hole for myself. :?:

[Iceman]

X350MA Pantera; 48 built and oddly, quite a few of them on here; Westbone has one as his avatar. More info on 'em..

http://www.westone.info/panterax350ma.html

Oiy!!!!! Quiet you!!!! Now let's not do anything rash. Musn't be hasty.

[fish]

I raced an old Royal Enfield Bullet an eon ago... haven't had my leg over since my brother-in-law was killed on a bike...

I came across this pic while looking for something else on Google, not an Enfield Bullet but its a nice old photo. Didn't know Enfield had built a fully enclosed production bike, 1932 as well. I always though the 1955 Vincent Black Shadow & Prince were the first enclosed production bikes



Woman Seeks Directions
1932 UK, A woman perches on a Royal Enfield, "Cycar", motorcycle while she asks directions from a Royal Automobile Club rider. The "Cycar" is fully enclosed which prevents oil and grease from soiling its rider.

I guess it was posed for an add but interesting non the less

[fish]

X350MA Pantera; 48 built and oddly, quite a few of them on here; Westbone has one as his avatar. More info on 'em..

http://www.westone.info/panterax350ma.html

Oiy!!!!! Quiet you!!!! Now let's not do anything rash. Musn't be hasty.

I think the cat was out of the bag some time ago Ice

[THEBARRON]

Frankston- Melbourne victoria- Australia.
Echuca- victoria- Australia.... Boring as batcrap really when I read that back to myself.

Oh! I went overseas once....... to Tasmania.lol
Cheers,
Richie..

[grogg]

Fishy,
What a great pic, love the way RAC man and RAC box lean in a way that suggests they have a different gravity...

[Iceman]

I'd better recap here Richard. Ice knows what an X350MA is, one of his first posts was that he would like to find one.

OMG!!! Fish I just flashedback to younger days and one of my younger brothers whose 3 favorite words when he was 7 or so were "I'm telling mom".

Guess which role you played in that little trip down memory lane......hmmmm??

[Westbone]

Bet you must have been used to a lot of that. With all the BS

[fish]

Bet you must have been used to a lot of that. With all the BS

In the words of Manwell in Fawlty Towers, Ke

D'you recon they had the BS in Minnie So ta, Damian, as for me I was in the BB.

No, BS*** here...

Aged about six or seven I once drew & wrote on a newly decorated wall, my Mother
belted my elder brother for doing it, he said, no it was him Mom, she said don't tell lies,
he cant write that well & belted him again for lying, I kept stum.

[The Chad]

In the words of Manwell in Fawlty Towers, Ke

Off topic, but we've slowly been watching the whole Fawlty Towers series. It makes me cring sometimes, it gets rolling along and becomes like a train wreck that you can't stop watching! Cleese has a unique talent for the awkward.

[fish]

In the words of Manwell in Fawlty Towers, Ke

Off topic, but we've slowly been watching the whole Fawlty Towers series. It makes me cring sometimes, it gets rolling along and becomes like a train wreck that you can't stop watching! Cleese has a unique talent for the awkward.

Have you watched the Rat episode yet Chad I think that was my favorite, or the one where Cleese kicked & thrashed his Austin 1100 with the bow of a tree

[The Chad]

Yes we did, just a month ago! Manuel's pet rat gets out and the health inspector comes around for a visit! Oh man, I'm laughing thinking about it. That episode is great. And the one where the guy dies and they hide his body all over the place, and the old lady keeps finding him propped up different places! I laughed till I cried on that one. Ah, good show, good show.

[Barry]

In the words of Manwell in Fawlty Towers, Ke

I think Manuel would have said something more like "¿Qué?" And yes, Fawlty Towers is the funniest sitcom ever made, thanks to Cleese's almost obsessive attention to details, timing and writing. They tried to make an American version of it, but the sponsors or producers or somebody, would not do it the way Cleese insisted it had to be done. It failed miserably.

[Iceman]

John Cleese is a comedic genius. Played the greatest Robin Hood ever in the movie Time Bandits.

[Barry]

John Cleese is a comedic genius. Played the greatest Robin Hood ever in the movie Time Bandits.

And did it without a silly walk! Fawlty Towers stings now because we've become so bloody politically correct we can't laugh at ourselves and our short comings anymore. Sometimes I really miss the 70's (sniff).

[Iceman]

NONE SHALL PASS !!!!

[richardlpalmer]

X350MA Pantera; 48 built and oddly, quite a few of them on here; Westbone has one as his avatar. More info on 'em..

http://www.westone.info/panterax350ma.html

Sadly, the link doesn't want to work for me. It forwards to a "Spares" page...

I'd better recap here Richard. Ice knows what an X350MA is, one of his first posts was that he would like to find one.

My post was for Ice but as you had posted your note as I wrote mine I added ''would suit Richard too'' relating to the link, though grammatically it reads all wrong, or am I just digging a deeper hole for myself. :?:

Ahhhhh, clear as mud! (J/K, I really do understand -- thanks for the details.)

I raced an old Royal Enfield Bullet an eon ago... haven't had my leg over since my brother-in-law was killed on a bike...

I came across this pic while looking for something else on Google, not an Enfield Bullet but its a nice old photo. Didn't know Enfield had built a fully enclosed production bike, 1932 as well. I always though the 1955 Vincent Black Shadow & Prince were the first enclosed production bikes



Woman Seeks Directions
1932 UK, A woman perches on a Royal Enfield, "Cycar", motorcycle while she asks directions from a Royal Automobile Club rider. The "Cycar" is fully enclosed which prevents oil and grease from soiling its rider.

I guess it was posed for an add but interesting non the less

Wow! What a great looking piece of history (and the bike is nice, too!)

[Iceman]

The spares page is a temporary redirect as he is going out of business. The former links will most likely be back after the 5th of April.

Just remember Richard that I was not the one plying you with links to expensive whiskey vacations so when you see that gorgeous axe you would not be able to recognize it for what it is.

[grogg]

NONE SHALL PASS !!!!

I take it you mean the Black Knight. Monty

[Barry]

Never gets old!

[Iceman]

...no its not.....it's just a flesh wound.

[richardlpalmer]

The spares page is a temporary redirect as he is going out of business. The former links will most likely be back after the 5th of April.

Just remember Richard that I was not the one plying you with links to expensive whiskey vacations so when you see that gorgeous axe you would not be able to recognize it for what it is.

FWIW, my main guitar forum is http://www.birdsandmoons.com. I am almost numb from looking at ridiculously gorgeous (and expensive) equipment. I consider myself very fortunate to have one very nice guitar. So many on that forum have MANY that make mine look like something found in the discard pile.

That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing it. I love exotic guitars! Hopefully it's waaaaaaay out of my budget and then I won't even pine for it.

[corsair]

I agree.... the really expensive guitars are pretty to look at and to wonder at the price, but in terms of playability do they offer $10,000 worth of extra comfort and versatility?! I would hazard a guess and think not really; awful lot of pose value though!!

[richardlpalmer]

I agree.... the really expensive guitars are pretty to look at and to wonder at the price, but in terms of playability do they offer $10,000 worth of extra comfort and versatility?! I would hazard a guess and think not really; awful lot of pose value though!!

Well, I don't know about that either way. I think there's an awful lot to be said about aesthetics and inspiration. But also the quality and workmanship involved in some of those instruments is ridiculous. And some of the woods & electronics are the equivalent of unobtanium -- creating tones you can't get otherwise...

And to also be fair, a lot of the guys getting instruments of that caliber are often consummate professionals -- using them as the craft of their trade.

And lest there be any confusion, I'm not one of those people.

[Westbone]

Well said.

[corsair]

Well said.

By whom?

Is a £10000 instrument really £9000 better than a £1000 instrument? Surely the law of diminishing returns must take effect in there someplace?!

If you're talking about the sheer aesthetics of a beautiful piece of wood, then I yield - my old shotgun has a Claro Walnut exhibition grade stock and it is truly a thing of wonder... or it would have been if my grandfather didn't have the predilection for rubbing gun oil into it every time he cleaned it!!

I've seen pros using all manner of gear, but I've got to say most usually used a Stratocaster which had been normally pretty heavily breathed on and tarted up for just about everything I ever saw them use it on!!

[Iceman]

Again proving that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Trying to grasp another's ideal in a guitar I suppose can be as elusive as attempting to describe a rainbow to a blind man.

Those that have invested a great deal of time in playing would necessarily see the practical beauty of a battered Strat with uber tone.

Those that pursue a guitar as an expression of creativity or art may be drawn first to the instuments lines, finish, symmetry (or lack thereof), color, etc.

Those that collect probably first look to the uniqueness of the production, the material qualities that might set it apart.

This post in itself is a thing of beauty. Review it and see where it has been and wonder "who knows where it will go?" What a eclectic group of individuals with rich experiences and varied opinions we have here.

A tip of my cap to you, Corsair. True restraint exercised where other admins might have choked off it's wonderful, winding nature.

Truly a repectful, organic, freeflowing exchange of our thoughts as we all grow in our appreciation of those axes we own, have owned and hope one day to own.

[richardlpalmer]

Well said.

By whom?

Is a £10000 instrument really £9000 better than a £1000 instrument? Surely the law of diminishing returns must take effect in there someplace?!

If you're talking about the sheer aesthetics of a beautiful piece of wood, then I yield - my old shotgun has a Claro Walnut exhibition grade stock and it is truly a thing of wonder... or it would have been if my grandfather didn't have the predilection for rubbing gun oil into it every time he cleaned it!!

I've seen pros using all manner of gear, but I've got to say most usually used a Stratocaster which had been normally pretty heavily breathed on and tarted up for just about everything I ever saw them use it on!!

I disagree to some amount. Those "battered" instruments are very often quite spectacular -- just well used and naturally relic'd. Looking at Stevie Ray Vaughn's strat at first glance gives the idea that it's just a beat up, ordinary strat. But the truth is more on the order of custom one-off neck profile, individually custom wound (and by hand) pups, electronics that have been "massaged" within an inch of their lives, etc.

And what of a concert violinist. Why do they seek particular Stradavarius specimens over others makes? Surely the massive price difference couldn't make THAT much difference in tone. Or for that matter what about just the violin bow? The best being made by one very specific type of relatively rare wood (Pernabuco) and costing many hundreds (some, thousands) of dollars for it alone.

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